diff --git a/t/t1304-default-acl.sh b/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
index 2b962cfda7..79045abb51 100755
--- a/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
+++ b/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
@@ -14,16 +14,15 @@ umask 077
 # We need an arbitrary other user give permission to using ACLs. root
 # is a good candidate: exists on all unices, and it has permission
 # anyway, so we don't create a security hole running the testsuite.
-
-setfacl_out="$(setfacl -m u:root:rwx . 2>&1)"
-setfacl_ret=$?
-
-if test $setfacl_ret != 0
-then
-	say "Unable to use setfacl (output: '$setfacl_out'; return code: '$setfacl_ret')"
-else
-	test_set_prereq SETFACL
-fi
+test_expect_success 'checking for a working acl setup' '
+	if setfacl -m d:m:rwx -m u:root:rwx . &&
+	   getfacl . | grep user:root:rwx &&
+	   touch should-have-readable-acl &&
+	   getfacl should-have-readable-acl | egrep "mask::?rw-"
+	then
+		test_set_prereq SETFACL
+	fi
+'
 
 if test -z "$LOGNAME"
 then